648 The future indicative in an Εἰ Clause
- a. Is in form a simple future condition; sometimes
it is equivalent to μέλλω with an infinitive, denoting
present intention or expectation:
Eἰ τούτου καταψηφιεῖσθε, δῆλοι ἔσεσθε ὡς ὀργιζόμενοι τοῖς πεπρᾱγμένοις if you vote against this
man, it will be plain that you are angry at their deeds.
L. 12, 90. ἀσύνετα νῦν ἐροῦμεν, εἴ σέ γʼ εὐφρανῶ
we will talk nonsense now, if I shall (thereby) please
you. E. IA. 654. εἰ οὖν οἱ δοκοῦντες διαφέρειν τοιοῦτοι
ἔσονται, αἰσχρὸν ἂν εἴη if then those who are thought
superior are to be like that, it wοuld be a shame.
AP. 35 a.
- b. It often suggests threat, warning, or earnest
appeal (Emotional Future Condition):
Εἰ ὑφησόμεθα καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλεῖ γενησόμεθα,
τί οἰόμεθα πείσεσθαι; if we yield and come into the
kingʼs power, what treatment do we expect? AN. III. 1,17.
εἰ τῑμωρήσεις Πατρόκλῳ τὸν φόνον καὶ Ἕκτορα
ἀποκτενεῖς, αὐτὸς ἀποθανεῖ if you shall avenge the
slaying of Patroklos and kill Hectοr, you will yourself die. AP. 28 c.
In such cases the indicative presents the supposition more
distinctly as a possible future fact; if the consequences will
be serious, it gives a ''minatory or monitory'' tone to force one
to look at them in that way.